Coach Donnie Quinn of Hoover High School described Tyrese Tanner's state championship performance against Bob Jones in 2010 with one word: dominant.
"She was the best player on our team," Quinn said. "Although she didn't really average that many points a game, and just the way we play no one really stars on our team, but when it was time to do something and we needed a basket it was always her that seemed to be the one that was getting it."
Tanner is in her second season with the Tigers after earning playing time her freshman year and learning under coach Nell Fortner.
"She is a great motivator with her speeches," Tanner said of Fortner. "I think just as always the coaches say go to practice like it's a game and what you do in practice is what you do in a game, and that's how I look at it."
Tanner said although she was starting at the beginning of the season, she plays better off the bench.
"I really enjoy playing, and every year so far I've had an injury. I'm just trying to stay healthy," Tanner said.
She said her ankle injury will not stop her from playing, which Quinn said is par for the course with Tanner.
"Even when she had her knee injury, she had surgery, and the next day she shows up with this contraption on her leg and she's trying to shoot," Quinn said. "As far as hustle, she has never been one to take off even a day."
Quinn said Tanner shows the same determination during practice as she does in games.
"She always held herself to a higher standard than a lot of kids do," Quinn said. "We do sprints and that kind of stuff and a lot of kids pace themselves. She would always be first, and really with her it was a matter of trying to keep her from getting hurt because she was diving for balls and diving in the bleachers and those types of things."
Tanner played in every game as a freshman at Auburn, scoring a season-high 15 points against Alabama and Chicago State.
Tanner said she's always looking for ways to be a better athlete.
"I want to improve on my offensive game and being able to know when to take the best shot on the floor," Tanner said.
Quinn said Tanner remains competitive despite her injuries.
"When she came back after surgery she couldn't play, but looked at it as an opportunity to work on her shot, and it paid off," Quinn said. "She's in the top five hardest workers I've ever had."
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